Crohn’s & Colitis Glossary

Inflammation

Part of the body’s immune response to protect it from harmful irritants, viruses, and damaged cells. Without inflammation, infections and wounds would not heal.

Intestinal epithelium

A layer of cells lining the small and large intestine that helps digestion of food, absorbs nutients, and protects body against microbial infections.

Intestinal fibrosis

An excessive buildup of scar tissue in the intestinal wall.

Intestine

The long, tubelike organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. It

consists of the small and large intestines.

Intravenous (IV)

Taking place within a vein or veins.

Lactoferrin

A stool test for intestinal inflammation that aids in predicting active IBD.

Large intestine

The last part of the gastrointestinal tract (colon, rectum, and anus) where water is absorbed, and stool (poop) is stored before leaving the body.

Lymphocyte

A type of white blood cell important in immunity (protection) against infection.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A body scan that uses magnets (instead of X rays) to create a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body.

Microbiome

All the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes that live in our bodies naturally.